Chapter 354 - Chronicle of War I

Clean streets, clean buildings, an emphasis on being pure. Nature held command over a singular park, a park close to the residential district. The sky seemed aching, the people walked and talked as if robots. A feeling of idleness, a feeling of longing for excitement. The park, named Green Orth; held a peculiar alter in the middle. The place was used for prayers, religion out in public was shunned by most. Voiced subtly as to not attract attention, those who prayed at said alter were given a side-glance. The deity in question was Goddess Syhton. One revered mainly in Hidros. As for Iqeavea, especially the kingdom ruled by the Emperor said goddess was more of a curse. Once upon a time, many o' folks would come to pray. Prayers that went straight into a priest's hand to be given to her holiness. 

Five years later, the same alter was swapped. Swapped for the deity of Kreston. A god of which bore many names, many faces, and many fanatical devotees. A park used for casual walks and chattery turned to one vile and unforgiving. Those who believed had the bad habit of forcing their belief. The popularity of Green Orth dwindled to the point of abandonment.

Not far from the park, in an apartment located behind many o' sky-high buildings, lived a couple. One that arrived about five years ago. A few months prior to a world-changing event. A man with girly charm and a lady with fox-ears and pretty visage. The disparities between humans and non-humans weren't common. Most gave curious gazes to then dismiss any difference. Education made the mind open to new ideas. Yet, despite that, religion was it who sullied their mind. Smart turned blind, abiding by ideals opposed to action.

Some could say it came about because of the revolt. A revolt that had the Empire shaking. 

It all began around five years ago. The kingdom of Hidros, with its provinces, mainly Kreston, Dorchester, and Arda. The trio underwent a painful exchange. 

Arda turned on their alliance with Hidros. Tis was what many thought for their force-marched into Dorchester on the 1st of January. The day would be remembered as Garsley's slaughter. Kreston hit the still-recovering capital. Many o' bodies were left, a merciless takeover. The one in charge even surrendered to no avail. Kreston took hostages, burnt buildings, and killed those who refused to convert. 

6th January of XX89: Queen Gallienne, more precisely, the Dukedom of Goldberg, stood at the front line. They blocked and covered Savaview bridge. The two opposing factions had declared war.

7th January of XX89: Queen Gallienne sent for help from her ally in Arda. The plan was to pincer and invade Dorchester from the North East, thus squandering the few Krestonian forces. Her plea was replied with nothing but a blank letter. One that meant either a declaration of war or that she was in peril. 

14th January of XX89: An Ardanian platoon led by Saint Mich, rejoined with the Platoon led by Archangel Erna. This sent the message of Arda's allegiance to Hidros, who didn't take it lightly. 

18th January of XX89: Kreston and Arda began their invasion of Dorchester. The province was unnecessarily big, the effects of wars lingered. Fortresses, castles, and bases of operation used in the previous war were still functional. The occupation began at a stead-fast pace. The few non-combatants captured were forced into Death-Marches along the province. Used as labor and slaves without wasting money.

19th January of XX89: Queen Gallienne thought of breaking her alliance with Arda. The latter's status as a province was unknown. If that would come to pass, it meant going against two war-readied provinces. However, as rumors spread around the Royal Castle, a strange man bearing white and red hair's words sufficed. He convinced and explained the matter at hand. The seed of disruption if it wasn't for that man, would have bloomed. Arda and Hidros might not have gotten along. 

25th January of XX89: Arda's monarchy turned to ruin. The kingdom's coffers emptied. The council of representatives was in disaccord. They were on the verge of civil war. 

7th April of XX89: The Lizardmen tribe denounced their allegiance with the Queen. They instead choose to back the noble-faction. Duke Mundy of Saratol, a beast-man, was the instigator. Plans for a coup went into play, to overturn Arda's rule with him becoming the new leader. 

27th April of XX89: Kreston's invasion reached the borders of Arda. Town Eden, the link, was divided. Kreston forcefully took over the Eastern-side. The Guild Leaders: Haru, Skokdrag, Mieshre, and Ryul, went into hiding. They who represented the differing races fled. 

6th May of XX89: Erna's main-force took to Town Eden due to civil unrest. Saint Tim, the ruler of Town Eden, was assassinated. Hearing the news, the Pope was angered. He swore to have revenge and thus dispatched a squadron of planes. 

8th May of XX89: The bombardment of the Western-Side of Town Eden ended in naught. Eyewitness report said that the projectiles stopped in mid-air. The comfortable takeover encountered resistance. Angered, he sent over Erna.

15th May of XX89: Her Platoon reached the half-way mark. The reason she felt at ease abandoning Castle Garsley was that there was no news of forces from the Empire. The Emperor refused to send help. Hidros's forces were compromised of the Dukedom of Goldberg, about 1.5 thousand of none well-train soldiers. The Dukedom of Haworth and Dukedom of Riviera had a combined force of 3 thousand. Sadly, they were to the south and it would take more than a week to move that number of troupes. The resistance in castle Garsley was 3 thousand men, the odds were two-to-one. Mages in Hidros were ordered to return to Iqeavea as to not fight nor partake in the war. 

16th May XX89: Krestonian platoon reached Krigi of old. It surprised many when reports of a team of black-wearing-tuxedos dropped in via helicopters. Many said that the one in charge was a figure of a lady who wore a mask. Not overly flashy and aided by their superior weaponry, castle Garsley's men were killed via projectiles. A small fighter-plane was the one responsible for destroying outpost after outpost. In 5 hours, their defense was breeched with 2.5 thousand fighter's left. Tis was were the Dukedom of Goldberg came in play. Goldberg's company split into ten platoons of 200 fighters. 

18th May XX89: Three out of the ten platoons were wiped in the initial encounter. At that point, Lieutenant Colonel Kiser; managed to skillfully retain the sudden invasion by air. The black-team, unknown to this day, left mysteriously after taking out the defense. He hailed from Iqeavea; an army officer who was under the Emperor's team. Many were baffled by the Emperor choosing to affiliate with Kreston, the revolting province, opposed to the Kingdom of Hidros.

25th May XX89: Goldberg's Company dwindled to five platoons of 200. The advancement was halted at a strong-point midway from the bridge to the castle. A mage of Earth affiliation constructed an outpost within a night. The stronghold was filled with weapons and kept on suppressing any advancement. Goldberg had only made it to an area after the bridge. 

28th May XX89: Krestonian army pushed back the invasion of Arda. Erna and the pope heard the news of the battle. Still, she was ordered to advance to Town Eden. It would mean taking a portal conjured by the Ardanians. The handy work of General Niroz. Else, the normal trip would have them walk South-West into Arda. An area close to Noctis' Hallow. The latter gave into the Alps that soon gave into the Border of Dorchester if one went North East. 

28th May XX89: Lady Goldberg had reached her end. At 13:00, the enemy had gain ground fast and took away another 3 platoons. Two remaining stayed back to cover her escape. It was then that lady luck smiled. Trucks, countless RFS, the TU-03 – reinforcement. In their midst, an experimental vehicle, a magic-powered Tank, the turret had a range of 3 kilometers. Only one came onto the field with the firing capacity of 5 till it ran out of juice. The trucks held the forces of the Dukedom of Haworth, a force of around 1.5 thousand. Each truck had capacity for 50 fighters. As for the plane, it carried 400 men, two-platoon that were dropped behind enemy lines. A blind-spot overlooked by the Lieutenant Colonel Kiser. Pincered on each side, the five-hundred men died. Castle Garsley was left with 2 thousand. 

30th May XX89: The fight escalated; Goldberg got the upper hand. The leadership of the entire Company changed to a mysterious man. One only a few saw him for he was reported to be accompanied by many ladies. Ladies of which held tremendous power. Instead of brute force, the strategies of hit-and-runs, using squads opposed to platoons, had the castle shaking. The bold-strategy would not have worked if Kreston held control over the now destroyed outpost.

2nd June XX89: Kiser sounded the alarm to retreat. His forces were one platoon strong. Left by the cover of night, a shell hit his transport and the Battle of Garsley ended.

7th June XX89: Erna's platoon arrived at Town Eden. The teleport took them a few hundred kilometers in a dense forest. Guided by the Ardanian, the latter made rounds around the forest without her suspecting. It gave ample time to evacuate Town Eden. The deception soon had ire to which she slaughtered the Ardanian's. Niroz soon heard the news and escorted the Archangel out of the province. They're alliance needed to be a secret. It felt weird, a sensation of being watched had Erna constantly lookout for a potential betrayal. 

19th June of XX89: Razer, known as the Syndicate, the special-forces from Kreston that had spear-headed many tasks such as the Apostle's kidnapping, was at a lost for words. Their intelligence on the Battle of Garsley had many raising eyebrows. The pope demanded an answer on how a meager force could have killed 3 thousand battle-hardened fighters. Naught was the only response returned. They who thought to have absolute control over the underground were soon to have a rude awakening. 

23rd June of XX89: Savaview Bridge and Castle Garsley returned into Hidros's control. 

24th June of XX89: The order to regroup at Dorchester's noble district was issued. 

5th July of XX89: Kreston called for a non-aggression pact. One that would last six months. The war had taken many o' lives, and many efforts. Both parties knew it was just a convenient way to gather their forces. Thus, to that, queen Gallienne was quick to say yes. In condition that a border be erected. Twenty-kilometers around Castle Garsley was added to the Goldberg's land. 

10th July of XX89: The Pope demanded Razer to find out who supported the battle of Garsley.

7th August of XX89: The search revealed nothing. 

8th August of XX89: Arda's rule turned upside down. A disagreement between Saint Mich and General Niroz had the capital in chaos. The reason for said fight was that the general's wife was suspected to aid in giving out information. A leak, a traitor was in their midst. It showed in the first battle. Because of that, Kreston grew weary of Ardanians. 

16th August of XX89: More forces arrived into Arda via the teleporter. The Saints felt the control slip away slowly.

20th August of XX89: The tyranny and news of the dungeon got out. The few people who lived were angered.

24th August of XX89: Villagers around the capital revolted. Many overthrew the priests sent over to convert the province via culture.

5th September of XX89: The royal council of Arda broke into a differing faction. 

6th September of XX89: Civil War raged rampantly. Magic wielding inhabitants forcefully entered the capital to free those being harmed.

10th September of XX89: Queen Shanna went into hiding.

11th September of XX89: Duke Mundy of Saratol, backed by the noble faction and Lizardmen tribe, took command of the capital.